Meteorology: Definition, Usage & Key Concepts

Meaning 1：study of weather (meteorology)

meteorology 🔊

/ˌmiːtiəˈrɒlədʒi/

The science that studies the atmosphere and the weather, helping us understand and predict things like rain, sunshine, and storms.

Meteorologist analyzing weather map showing clouds and temperature zones in a modern station

study of weather 🔊

➕

/ˈstʌdi əv ˈweðər/

The scientific discipline focused on understanding and predicting atmospheric conditions and weather patterns.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'meteōron' (thing in the sky) + '-logia' (study).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'meteor' in the sky: meteorology studies atmospheric events like weather, not space rocks.

📖 Example

Her interest in clouds and storms led her to study meteorology at university and become a weather forecaster. 🔊 Her fascination with clouds and storms inspired her to pursue meteorology in college and later work as a weather predictor.

🔗 Collocations

study meteorology – to engage in the academic discipline of meteorology

meteorology department – a university division focused on atmospheric sciences

applied meteorology – the practical use of meteorological knowledge in fields like agriculture or aviation

🔄 Synonyms

climatology (n.) – the study of climate, often overlapping with meteorology

atmospheric science (n.) – a broader field that includes meteorology and related studies

weather forecasting (n.) – the application of meteorology to predict weather conditions

🌱 Derivatives

meteorologist (n.) – a scientist who specializes in meteorology

meteorological (adj.) – relating to meteorology or atmospheric conditions

meteorologically (adv.) – in a manner related to meteorology

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Greek 'meteōrologia'. Aristotle's 'Meteorologica' was an early work on atmospheric phenomena, evolving to specialize in weather science.